Years of service 1914–44 Name Herbert-Ernst Vahl | ||
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Born 9 October 1896
Posen, Province of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire now Poznan, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland ( 1896-10-09 ) Allegiance German Empire (to 1918)
Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany Rank SS-Brigadefuhrer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Battles/wars World War I
World War II Died July 1944, Thessaloniki, Greece Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Commands held 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division | ||
Battles and wars World War I, World War II Service/branch German Army, Waffen-SS | ||
Herbert-Ernst Vahl was a high-ranking German SS commander during World War II who commanded the SS Division Das Reich and the 4th SS Polizei Division. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
In February 1943, Vahl was promoted to Oberführer, and given command of the SS Division Das Reich which was stationed in the Soviet Union. While in command during the Third Battle of Kharkov he was seriously wounded and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. After recovering from his wounds he became the Inspector of Panzer troops in the SS Führungshauptamt (SS Leadership Main Office). In July 1944 Vahl returned to active service with the SS Polizei Division which was stationed in Thessalonika, Greece. Vahl arrived to assume command of the Division on 13 July 1944 but was killed in an auto accident on 22 July 1944.